Today's
Style of Square Dancing

What makes square dancing so great?
It's very social. The very nature of this style
of dance is interactive teams of 8 people
reacting to commands from a "caller/entertainer."
You'll start dancing and having fun right away
and making new friends almost as fast.
Most clubs welcome singles.

How
Differentis
Today's Square Dancingfrom
its Traditional Image?

The modern square dance has evolved.
Many people experienced traditional, old-time
square dancing in their school years.
They may not have enjoyed old
fashioned music and simplistic moves.
It's better today than what they did in school.Instead of memorizing routines, now you learnindividual "calls" that the caller puts togetherin endless combinations, so you have to listen.
The music heard on today's square dance
floor ranges from pop to country
and show tunes to golden oldies.

Learn
of the Benefits&
See How You Learn
in the 10 minute video"Dancing
Keeps You Young"

Many
Benefits

The square dance is mildly aerobic andwhat better way to guarantee some funexercise than by attending a weekly session?A typical square dance event will have youmoving the equivalent of several kilometresbut you'll be having too much fun to notice.

In fact, the road to better health through
square dancing is so proven that we've
developed a printable 2-page brochure
that's available online.

Entitled "Your Prescription for Better Health,"
it contains endorsements by many medical
professionals, detailing the physical, mental
and social health benefits of square dancing
and its companion dance form,
round dancing:www.BetterHealth.squaredance.bc.ca

The social element of dancing with manyfriendly people moving to lively music is agreat way to forget the stress of the day.
You'll make many new friends who
often become friends both on and off
the dance floor.A wonderful benefit for couples is thatsquare dancing provides a regularopportunity for "together time."It's an interest away from home thata couple can share in equally.

Got
"Two Left Feet?"

If you can walk, you can square dance
(although in B.C. we have a wheelchair dance club).
This style of dance uses upper body hand
and arm movements, so there are no
difficult "steps." You simply glide along to
the rhythm of the music.

In learning to dance it's not
uncommon to feel
self-conscious, wanting to avoid making
mistakes in front of others.
In fact, there's no need to feel pressure because
everyone learns from a patient instructor.
Reinforced with lots of review, you'll become
confident and see how much fun it is.

How
Much Does it Cost?

The square dance recreation is probably one of
the
most economical activities that you'll find anywhere.
When you start to learn, the first one or more
sessions are usually free to try it out,
so you're already ahead with cost saving.
You'll get your money's worth, especially when you
find that many dances close with delicious
refreshments, included at no extra charge.
Remember, too, that by square dancing
you're investing in a fitness activity
that works toward better health.Return to
"About Square Dancing" Index

Who
will be at the Dances
& is it mostly Couples?

People just like you enjoy square dancing.
They come from all walks of life.They're people who want to have genuine
fun and lots of laughs.
We all want to improve our
physical and mental well-being and
to make new friends in a healthy
social atmosphere.

Most dances are composed of partnered dancers
and single dancers. Dance clubs make every
effort to involve those attending solo.

In more recent times, due to the greater interest
of women in dance and a higher demographic
of single persons, some ladies are learning
both the left and right positions of a square
dance couple, particularly the traditional
"man's position" to the left.
That way, they're dancing most all the time.In Burnaby you'll
find a club that was
established for singles but also welcomes
couples called the "Swinging Singles"
(that's "swing" as in: "swing your partner!")

In Vancouver there is a gender-neutral square
dance club of particular appeal to the
same sex community.

What's
the Attire?

Comfortable, dressy-casual is appropriate to
square
dance with low-rise footwear that won't mark the floor.
Men generally wear long-sleeved shirts and pants or
dressy jeans. Many of today's square dancing ladies
like a longer, flowing skirt often called a Prairie Skirt.
Dance clubs welcome those who opt to wear traditional
square dance attire, crinoline underskirt included.Return to
"About Square Dancing" Index

What
Followsthe
New Dancer Sessions?

Once you complete your instruction, your
sponsoring
dance club will invite you to attend their regular sessions
that usually take place weekly.

Many clubs observe programs of square dance calls
as identified by Callerlab, an international organization
of square dance callers.
Your program of choice depends upon the time you
can commit to learning. Listed from the lowest to
the greatest challenge, the programs are:

Basic/Condensed
Mainstream
Plus
Advanced 1 & 2
Challenge 1, 2 & 3

"Mainstream" has been the entry program
and the level at which many clubs dance weekly but a
condensed program called "West Coast Square Dancing"
is increasing in popularity. Developed in British Columbia,
it utilizes the most popular calls in the Mainstream
program, getting you dancing sooner,
usually in 10 to 12 weeks.
The Callerlab organization has also issued a
"Condensed Teaching Method" program to
accommodate those pressed for time but
wanting to learn to square dance.Return to
"About Square Dancing" Index

Is
Square Dancing Competitive?

It's not generally considered a competitive
activity although there are a few instances
where competition is enjoyed.
One such event takes place annually
in B.C., Washington State or OregonState known as the Pacific NorthwestTeen Square Dance Festival.The event rotates between regions.

Involving several competitive categories
including calling and exhibitions, it keeps
pre-teens and teens interested and
focused in the activity.

Square
Dance Travel Opportunities

A wonderful aspect about learning to square
dance
is how you open up a world of possibilities for travel.
Since the "calls" are standardized globally in
the English language, you can travel to dance
in many other countries.

Furthermore, dance Festivals and Conventions
make it extra fun to travel near and far,
joining hundreds and even thousands of other
square dancers.
World square dance tours and even cruises
featuring square dancing to some top callers
aboard ship are also available.

Perhaps the most fun can be had
just driving up
the road to the nearest town or city where they'll
probably have a square dance club. Travelling
to dances within your region lets you make
new dance friends close to home.Return to
"About Square Dancing" Index

Other
Dance Forms Embraced

Under the non-profit B.C. Square &
Round Dance
Federation, other dance forms such as round dancing
and clog dancing are embraced.

Round dancing is square dancing's companion dance
that's usually incorporated into a square dance program.
It's choreographed ballroom dancing where nobody has
to lead because the steps are prompted by a "cuer"
over the microphone.

Some square dance clubs offer new round dancer
sessions and there are some clubs in B.C. that
only round dance.

Clog dance clubs also operate in select cities
around the province.

Clogging is a low impact, rhythmic dance
done to live cues and a great variety of music.
It welcomes all ages and is very popular with singles.
The style is contemporary, precision style clogging.
Although not commonly available,
Contra Dancing is embraced by the
B.C. Square & Round Dance Federation.
It's considered the forerunner to the
square dance. It involves facing lines
of dancers who interact across and
up and down the lines.

UPPER
VANCOUVER ISLAND

(INCL.POWELLRIVER)

In
co-operative fashion, these two
clubs invite newcomersto
weekly square dance sessions at 7:00 pm Wednesdays
starting with TWO FREE LESSONSJanuary 9 & 16, 2019,at the Anglican ChurchHall in Lantzville.Come try it with no obligation!Attend one or both free sessions.Newcomers are welcomethrough to Wed. Jan. 23.An economical registrationfee will apply.

Sand DollarsParksvilleSquare
& round dance clubTo all residents in the Oceanside area:If you missed the freeopportunity to try today'sstyle of square dancingon Sun. Sept. 23 at 7:00,contact the club belowto inquire about the nextopportunity to join in!

Today's style of square dancing.

is a great experience!

Yes, Oceanside has its own

modern square dance club

and we're all about fun!

We're presenting the

West Coast Square Dance Program.

It's a fun, condensed period of

instruction that gets you

dancing sooner. In a short time

you'll be able to go dance with

other newcomers up and down

the Island at special dances

hosted just for you!

There are so many benefits:

Active living for the mind & body

Highly social - make new friends

Wide variety of very enjoyable music

While welcoming to singles, this isan ideal recreation for couplesto share in equallyIt's easy - square dancing is simply a walking step- no fancy footwork

Although the dancing’s now movedto Thursday nights at 7 in the newlocation at the Recreation Centre onMcKellar Ave., in some past newspaperarticles you can learn moreabout this fun dance club,the Mile Zero Grand Squares:

On Oct. 17, 2012, the Alaska Highway News published the article “It’s hipto dance square.” The article openswith a photo showing the wide agerange of participants, all having funlearning today’s style of square dancing.Titled “Mile Zero square dancers bringstogether circle of friends,” see the fullarticle at the following link:Hip to Dance Square

also...On Oct. 30, 2012, the Northeast Newspublished an article profiling this danceclub and its dedicated leaders, Jean& Bernie. Again, the dancing’s now movedto Thursday nights at 7 in the Rec.Centre on McKellar, but you can stillenjoy the past article online at this link:Square Dancers Bring Circle of Friends

PRINCE
GEORGE

Northern Twisterssquare & round dance club

7 pm Monday lessons in today's

style of
square dancing got

underway on Sept. 10, 2018.

Call or e-mail to inquire about

the next opportunity to join in.

It will be a great experience!

Regular Monday sessions

at 7 pm are proceeding for a

very economical registration fee.

Free
refreshments served

at lessons conducted by

this dance club.

Casual
attire - Free
parking

All
ages welcome including

couples and singles.

Many benefits:

Have fun - Laugh

Make new friends

Get lots of enjoyable exercise

Reduce stress

Improve memory skills

Dance to some great music!

This club's been enjoying

square & round dance fun in

Prince George since 1957.

Location:Trinity United Church, formerly Knox 1448 5th Ave.(Downstairs--use the side entranceclosest to the parking lot)Click here for a map

BONUS TO LESSONS!Note that learning to square danceat this time positions you very well to have theskill to participate in some special weekendevents as well as some large Festivals & Conventions coming up in 2019 & 2020. Of particular note is that several of the biggestevents are uncommonly converging on thispart of North America around the same timeover a two year period.

Our provincial Festival next year will beone of the largest ever, taking placeJuly 11 to 13, 2019, in Salmon Armat the Shaw Centre complex.Click here for PDF of a newsletter. See a Facebook article about the opportunityto experience the thrill of dancing with hundreds of others by clicking on this link.Live lively! Enjoy learning to dance and get readyfor some extra special fun over the next two years.